Josh Freeman’s Best Game
November 2nd, 2010
Bucs fans are still riding on Cloud-9 over the thrilling win over the Cardinals in Arizona. Part of that is because of the offense the Bucs showed.
Sure, LeGarrette Blount’s hurdling, eye-popping 48-yard run was sizzling and he helped open up the Bucs’ passing game.
As a result, Josh Freeman very well may have had his best game in the NFL. That’s what cool cat Joe Smith of the St. Petersburg Times reports. He touched base with Bucs offensive coordinator Greg Olson who lauded Freeman’s play.
“I felt like Josh probably played his best game as a Buc,” Olson said. “He went 18-for-25 for (72) percent completion (percentage), but after watching the film, really he had four drops; it could have very easily been a 23-of-25 game.”
Of course, Olson said they would have preferred a theoretical 23-of-26, if Freeman had thrown the ball away instead of taking a late fourth-quarter sack. But Olson said that the way Freeman handled the loud crowd, and adverse circumstances, made this game special.
“It was really a game where he was hitting hands and was very accurate, and to me, he was in the flow of the game and the game came to him (Sunday),” Olson said. “To see him do that on the road and … in a hostile environment where he’s having to make a lot of calls at the line of scrimmage and walk to the line of scrimmage and communicate to everybody. It’s really a tribute to him and what his preparation has been like.”
As Joe has written several times, the Bucs offense seems to be on the cusp of absolutely blowing up, now that it appears they have found their No. 1 back in Blount.
Joe’s of the belief that Olson needs to turn Freeman and the young offense loose. Throw the doors wide open. Until the Bucs defense shows it can shut down average teams (much less good teams), the Bucs are going to have to outscore opponents, as the Bucs did Sunday.
Giving up 305 yards passing to the likes of Max Hall and Derek Anderson gives Joe the hives. That’s not what playoff teams do.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:12 am
Derek Anderson can make dumb mistakes, but don’t knock his ability to throw the ball. He was in the Pro Bowl for a reason.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:36 am
Isn’t it nice to have a stable team. Look at the craziness going on. People wanted Shannahan in here. He’s crazier than Gruden. I just can’t believe the guys we have now, as inexperienced and whatever, according to some, can develop this talent the way they are and Gruden wouldn’t touch a player under 30.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:43 am
@Nick Stable? I would hardly call this team stable. Maybe you meant isn’t it nice to have a “Stable QB.” But, if I’m not mistake, the new “RB” is a practice squad castoff. The O-line features a couple of new faces and the receivers (except for Williams) seem to be mix and match.
November 2nd, 2010 at 11:59 am
@ Michael The new “RB” is a first round talent. The only reason he was on the pratice squad is because of his discipline issues. The team is stable. We have some issues to fix but the foundation is stable.
Interesting, Josh has his best game once we get the running game going. Like Joe says “This offense is a bout to blow up.”
November 2nd, 2010 at 12:01 pm
Compared to Chucky and Bruce, our team is a lot more stable. No, which 40 year old qb will we have. No “white tiger” talk. I will admit Shannahans explanation of the debacle the other day is way crazier than Grudens explanation for not being able to get Galloway and Bryant on the field together. And just because we picked up a RB off waivers doesn’t mean we’re not stable. Who cares if he’s a castoff. Fisher wishes he would’ve kept him
November 2nd, 2010 at 12:02 pm
isnt that what kurt warner,john randle,donald penn and many other good players were,does it makes them mix match because our the three main receivers were drafted,they are young and that seems like stability.they are under contract and not oo old to have an upside .they can only get better.maybe we sign moss, would that be stability?
November 2nd, 2010 at 12:05 pm
nick:
FYI, the Redskins are working out JaMarcus Russell this morning.
November 2nd, 2010 at 12:14 pm
shanahan is holding the door for gruden,snyder has no problem getting rid of him allen and gruden together again baby,far aayfrom tampa as posible ……goooood
November 2nd, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Seriously joe? No way jamarcus russel is getting workouts…C’mon bro. Shanahan didnt like the tempo of McNabb in practice and now is choosing to work out JaMarcus, unreal. Shanahan and Snyder are meant for each other.
November 2nd, 2010 at 1:04 pm
jesse j:
Feel free to Google “JaMarcus Russell, Redskins” and watch what pops up.
November 2nd, 2010 at 1:09 pm
Yea i heard it on the Morty talking about it on the Colin Cowherd show…wow!
November 2nd, 2010 at 1:11 pm
Russell has been working out hard, and looks like he is in great shape…I watched an interview with him. My concern was that he did not seem to really take responsibility, at least that was the impression I got.
November 2nd, 2010 at 1:37 pm
I named my FF team the “Purple Drankers” in honor of Russell
November 2nd, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Ok question:
WHY was this Josh Freeman’s best game?
Are the Cards that bad…or is it because the running game finally has taken some pressure off the pass rush?
Was it because Freeman was on the move and they had a rolling pocket?
Still too many questions to make blanket statements – but they’re headed in the right direction.
November 2nd, 2010 at 1:48 pm
I wouldnt king them a top producing offense quite yet Joe .. The Bucs were nearly shut out at home against the Saints and scored 1 TD against the Rams .. So thats one or two TDs in 8 quarters …
But I do believe we are getting better
November 2nd, 2010 at 3:15 pm
For those who call blount a castoff: Blount isnt will the titans anymore because he did basically the same thing in titan camp that he did on ESPN when he punched that guy in the face. Only the titans player had his helmet on go ahead and youtube that one. lucky for us we picked up a top running back who will f*cking lay you out that nobody once to tkl plus he’s fast.
November 2nd, 2010 at 3:15 pm
A still stand by a win is a win.
November 2nd, 2010 at 3:19 pm
Posey…The Titans say that is not the reason. they hoped to sneak him by, they have a couple of good backs already. If teams cut guys for training camp fights, there would be all sorts of unemployeed football players. I do agree with you on lucky for us we picked him up.
November 2nd, 2010 at 7:07 pm
Whatever the reason Fisher cut Blount was he made a giant mistake. He may have CJ but the rest of the backs on their roster aint better than Legarrette. Jeff Fisher is kicking himself right now.